The ceremony that follows the mourning is called the dama dance. Trancelike, energetic movements are performed by the men to accompany the dead into the ancestral realm and restore order to the universe. Through such sacred rituals, the Dogon believe that the benevolent forces of their ancestors are transmitted to them as the dance creates a bridge into the supernatural world.

The Dogon perform these ceremonies to honor the passing of a respected elder. This dama dance ceremony will often last for three days and involve dozens of dancers representing figures from the animal world, male and female powers, and the afterworld.

Once the dama dance has been performed, the aged bones of the elder are placed high in the windswept Bandiagara cliffs in the caves for the dead.

By Donna Van Wyk

Cheza Nami believes in a play-based, experiential approach to education by teaching African culture through dance, play and movement. The Cheza Nami Foundation Cultural Arts and Learning (CAL) assembly is a curriculum-based youth cultural arts educational program developed this year.  This series will be offered to the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) in collaboration with the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center (LVPAC). Listen for Life has also partnered with Cheza Nami to make their Travels with music unit on Africa, an online educational resource, available for the assembly pre-visit lesson plan.

This exciting program has won the approval of the City of Pleasanton and Redwood City Cultural Commission who have both awarded Cheza Nami with grants to provide schools with these educational assemblies. Cheza Nami has already provided assemblies to individual schools in cities throughout the Bay Area including Palo Alto, San Francisco, Redwood City and Alameda.

In the lead up to the assembly, teachers are provided with a pre-visit lesson plan with material that includes facts about Africa, music, videos, worksheets and carefully selected videos and audio from Listen for Life.

Can you dance?  I mean can you really dance?  Well, meet one of our cheerful dancers at ChezaNami, Jen Maina.  An educator, an avid Safari Adventure Traveler, Mom and a great mind, Mrs.Maina is a great help to Cheza Nami.  She delights in teaching and interacting with children—it’s her destiny she says.  Maina has been with Cheza Nami since its inception, and was thrilled to join in as a Secretary of the Board.  She share that her decision was easy because she envisioned the contribution the organizations brings to the well being and development of our young minds.

When asked to elaborate her insights, Maina was quick to highlight, “Children are agile and can be inspired by almost anything, playful dance, etc.  Whether that happens in the dance studio, while at the park or in a classroom; interactive play is essential to their growth and development.  And the more we offer it to our children the better of they will be.”   She adds, as a teacher, she often has to be innovative in her methodologies and approaches when introducing new concepts to her students, and dance is a great means by which the young can be exposed to the African culture, and the world at large.  Authenticity of the lessons and performances are some of her key selling points to other parents and adults who wish to join in on the fun—she notes that "it is all very real and the audience can sense it is from the heart.”

Being that she loves to dance to the tune of African music, drumming and the likes, she not only enjoys teaching the moves, but incorporating her expertise by sharing some of her teaching expertise to develop Cheza Nami programs and lessons plans.  When asked what would she like to share with others seeking similar experiences, she quickly point out that she has enjoyed much about Africa, and has visited many African countries and considers Kenya her second home.  "My husband is a native, and together we are privileged to operate a Safari and Travel company (www.overlandersafari.com).  We delight in sharing much of our experiences and joys of Africa with those we serve.  I would like to carve up all the wonderful sights, sounds, smells and taste of Africa.  It is a true experience when you can taunt the sensory system with such delights.”

Authored by Carolyne Njogu
Lead Strategy Consultant, U&I Synergy Consulting Group

Have you heard of the saying that dreams comes with much activity? If you have ever dreamed of doing something, and went on to accomplish it, you know first hand the veracity of this statement. Some dreams are birthed out of pain, lack, need, want and ambitions while others are born out of pure love and a sense of destiny.

It is almost four years now since my brief interview with Catherine-Ndugu-Case, the Founder of Cheza Nami Foundation. I recall clearly her asking a few questions about African Childhood games, dances, songs and riddles we grew up enjoying back in our native land, Kenya. I also recall that a few weeks later, that Mrs. Ndungu-Case invited me to a Cheza Nami debut: African Culture Learning workshop at the Pleasanton Public Library. I knew Catherine to be an artist since she was perhaps 10 years old. I recall she loved to showcase her musical skills, but she always had an ear for unique art pieces across all genres. When her twins were born six years ago, her dreams love for the arts really began to take form. When asked what really motivated her, Catherine likes to point to her bundles of joy, her twins and now six years old. I think the video above summarize why she is best at what she does. She explains, “When my twins were born, I searched for resources to help teach my kids Swahili, the language of her native Kenya. "I was hoping to find some programs similar to baby sign language classes, which use flash cards and interactive play. I could not find anything, and thus I knew I had to come up with something.” Determined to find a solution, Catherine took matters into her own hands, and weaved her love for art with the desire to teach African culture—and there, Cheza Nami, which means “Play with me” in Swahili, was founded. 

Today, it’s almost three years since Cheza Nami was born, and the organization is committed to promoting the understanding and appreciation of African Culture through music, dance, art and play. Besides, teaching African art, dance and music, Catherine delights in connecting with other local artists, and is constantly sharing her culture with all both locally and abroad. She believes that we are living in exciting times where the world is changing rapidly and cultures of all is within our turf—and therefore those who regard themselves as global citizens will have a better shot at thriving in our diverse world. For Catherine, Cheza Nami is her way of contributing to our world. She is grateful to have access to other cultures in this melting pot that is the Bay Area, and she feels that she owes it to the world to share some of the awesome qualities her African culture has to offer. Qualities such as the sense of community—an embodiment of many African cultures and a phenomenon that could very well enrich our lives given today’s growing digital age.

When she is not leading and programming at Cheza Nami, Catherine enjoys play with her twins while constantly strategizing on how to grow and bring her audience the best programs. When asked what she would like her organization to be known for, she shares her vision, “I hope to be an African Culture Ambassador.” And while she is aware of the diversity of African culture, she recognizes that the best way to accurately represent and share the different cultures of the continent is to collaborate, and partner with other local African cultural performing artists. She sees Cheza Nami as a unique go-to center for all things African culture learning and play, and she believes fulfilling this mandate is her destiny.

Authored by Carolyne Njogu
Lead Strategy Consultant, U&I Synergy Consulting Group

Wimwega! Jambo! Hello! 

Parents, do you wish you could teach your tot some of your childhood plays and songs?  Or better yet, do you wish you could share your childhood experiences with your tot?  You are not alone, and although I am not a parent yet; I confess my niece and nephew often ask some of the most interesting questions about my childhood—perhaps their curiosity stems from the knowledge that I grew up thousands and thousands miles away, I don’t know.  But whatever the reason, I find it hard to explain because some things are better experienced than explained.  

This brings me to my next confession of why I choose to write this blog.  You see, I came across the embedded, and I could not help but reminisce of the wonderful times I had at my grandma’s in Kenya.  The truth is that back then, I didn’t have toys or barbie dolls to play with or a babysitter to watch me; so, my friends, cousins and I just did what kids do best—play, and play we did.   Due to lack of toys, we improvised and used hands to tap the ground and pebbles to invent game that forged collaboration, etc.  This duo, mother and daughter, captured my imaginations in that I found myself lost in awe …what a partnership, how lovely, how authentic, and of course, how fun it must be for the two to embrace their roots and yet have fun together!   

You may have heard of the saying that, “two are better than one…” I truly believe in the power of two, but the thought of this mom and her tot enjoying their culture in such a fun way is more than heaven to me!  Heaven because it must be fulfilling to the parent, chiefly because it allows the parent to expose the child to a new culture, a treasure like moment that a child carries on into her future.   I should point out that this exposure compels the child to appreciate and relate better with others of a different culture.   For me, I know for a fact that growing up in an environment where my neighbors were from a different tribe and cultures helped me be more open to others in the Bay Area and the world at large.  

As I mentioned earlier, I am yet to be a mother, nevertheless; am very excited to join all you parents that love to engage with your tots in the very act of play. For those of you that have not been to parent and child African music and dance class, I encourage you to check it out... you will not regret it!   I applaud this organization and am proud to bond in their commitment to involve you and your child in learning through play—the spirit of Cheza Nami meaning ‘play with me.’  

Authored by Carolyne Njogu
Lead Strategy Consultant, U&I Synergy Consulting Group